Electrical connector



Jan. 24, 1956 G. J. GIEL ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed Jan. 15, 1954 Geo/ye J 6/9] INV ENTOR.

A'ltorney Uaied S em n ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR GeorgeJ. Giel, .venic caun, rassignorl to Audio Products Corporation, ILos .Angel'es, Calif.,.a corporation .ot. Cah- 'fornia Application January- 15, 1954', Serial N 404,244 6. Claims. 01. 339-176) Thepi'es'ent invention relates generally-to electrical connectors, and is more specificallyyconcernedjwith a connector of the plug' and -sockefi type-by means of which one or apl'urality of'circuit componentdevices-maybe inserted into or removed froman 'e'lectri'c'circui't.

The-connector of the present invention has been found to be especially advantageous in 'connectionwith conductors or commonly designated patchcords"*by which electroniccircuits-may be interconnected for testing and oth'erpurpose's, where it is very-often desirablefto be able to insert coupling impedances -such'as capacitors, resistors, crystal diodes, andthe lik'e' intoalinebr'patch- 'c'ord 'connecting the'circu'its. V

"It is one object of the herein described invention to provide a connector of simple construction, which is so arranged that two patchcords, or'conductorsections may be mechanically interconnected, and "atthe same time make electrical connection with electric 'termin'ahstructuiesin the connector, these terminal structures being so arrangedthat circuit componentdevicesrnay b fbr'idging'ly connected between--the terminal 'structure s to' vary the-circuit-characteristics. I g

A further object is to "provide such "connector "in wliich the terminal structure is'so arrange'clthat it'willau'tomatically grip 'the terminal leads" of th'e' circuitco mponent when-inserted through openings of? the connector body.

,For accomplishing the above, the connector of the present invention in its broad concept provides a tubular body of insulating material which supports terminal structures at its ends, these terminal structures eachbeing provided with a contact portion ,for electrically 'connecting:with.an associated conductor-orgpatchcord: The terminal structure also incorporatesa -contacttwhichuwill automatically grip a. terminal of thetcircuit component 'tobe connected into the circuit, Whenithe contacti lead is :inserted through an opening in the body endwise'into itsrinterior. V

Further objects of the invention will be brought out in the following part ofthe specification, wherein detailed description is for the purpose of'fully disclosing the invention without placing. limitations thereon.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only:

Fig. l is an exploded perspective view showing a connector embodying the features of the present invention, and the manner in which it is connected into a circuit and utilized for the connection of one or a plurality of circuit components into the circuit; I

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section through the connector; and

Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the same, taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the connector is shown as comprising an elongate tubular wall 10 of suitable material, shown in this instance as insulation. This tubular wall forms the body of the connector and at its ends is internally threaded, as indicated 2,732,534 "Patented Jan. 24, 1956 at. 1 1, to receive in threaded relation thereto an end closure 12; in each'case;

Since 'the 'end closures are similarlyconstructed', it is 'be'lieved' 'that it. will'sutfice for descriptive purposes to describe the detailconstruction of one of these closures only. The closure is in the form of a plugwliiclris arranged to be screwed into an-end of-the connector body until==restrained-by an end abutment flange 13. Various materials-may be utilizedfor the construction or th'eend closure, nylon' havi'ng been'found'to be admirably suited 'for such 'purpose. As shown, the plug or closure is axially recessed to form a socket *14 which opens in'the outer end ofitli'eclbsure- V Mounted in each .cl'osure is a terminalstructure' which embodies a conducting barf lawman is supportedf'infan 'axia'lly 'extending passage T6 in the inner end ofthe closure; 'The -p assage"16 is expanded, as shown in- 1 7., tofbrm-asat for a seating fiang'e 18 which "restrains the conducting bar against inward movement. A

Theco'nductin'g bar 15 has'an end portionfl9"wliich pr0jects" b'eyondthe innermost end of the closure'in'ember into' 'tlr'efii'iteiior ofthe bodYnWhiIe the-opposite end portion-' projects into tiiesokefl"! and constitutes a mal'e contact' 2 01 The conducting bar is locked in mounted position bynrieans of a lokingring 21 having snapen- 'gagement with thefend portion 1 9 of the conducting bar.

The "end portion forms" a; support and anchor for a contactmemberzz whichis showmas consisting of an elongate coiled "spring of suitable-"conducting inaterial, one-end of this spring being inserted over the endportion I9 and secured as by 's'oldering "or other suitable means. As thus mounted, the contact member 22" extends axially of the connector body, "the freeend "of-the spring being resiliently 'defi'e'ctable;

W-ith the'construction described 'abOve a'nd as shown in Fig. 2, it will'be observed that the contact members 22' are respectively'in 'el'ectrical'contact'with the male contact pins at the ends of the connectonfbut'thatgthe contact members 22 are insulatedjwith respelctto each ;other,their' free ends beingspaced apart and out of elec- "t'ricalcontact withea'chother. p

The wall "10 0f the connectorbody'is circumferentially provided with a plurality of {wall 'open'in'gs"23,. shown as being arranged in degree spaced. r elation circumferentiall y around eac'h of thecontactrnentbersll, 'Theb p eningsassociated "Wiih"bl16f0f the contact members 22 are "spacedfrom "the openings of" the other *COntactQmember 22- longitudinally of the tubular body of the connector.

The connector as described above therefore embodies a "construction inwhich the connector ends are adapted to receive companion plugs, as "generally indicatedby'the numeral 24,- which are connected to conductor sections or-patchcords "2'5i These jpatchcords may be mechani- 'c'all'y' interconnected by the connector of'the present invention by plugging reduced end projecting portions '26 v the connector. The proje'c'ting portions 26 have end'openings or passages 27 which are adapted to receive the adjacent end portion or male contact 20 of the connector and make electrical connection with the associated conductor section.

It will be noted, however, that with the conductor sections 25 mechanically interconnected by the connector of the present invention, the respective sections will be in electrical conducting relation with respect to the contact members 22-22, but the circuit will not be completed between these contact members. It is a simple operation to place circuit components, as exemplified by the resistor 28, into the circuit formed by the conductor sections 25 and the connector of the present invention. As shown, the resistor has pigtails or connection leads 29-29. In order to place the resistor into the circuit, it is only necessary to insert the ends of the respective leads 29 through the proper openings 23 so that they will enter the interior of the tubular body of the connector. The leads are automatically gripped by the coils of the spring which forms each of the contact members 22. The circuit component is thus bridgingly connected between the contact members 22 of the connector. Although only one component is shown, it is believed that it will be evident that a plurality of components may be bridgingly connected between the contact members 22.

Various modifications may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention, and, hence, I do not wish to be restricted to the specific form shown or uses mentioned, except to the extent indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An electric connector, comprising: a wall defining an elongate tube, said tube having a side opening; a closure in an end of said tube, said closure having a recess defining a socket opening into the outer end thereof adapted to receive a companion connection plug therein; a male contact member projecting into said socket; a closely coiled and substantially noncompressible spring electrically connected with said male member and projecting from the inner end of said closure into the interior of said tube, adapted to grippingly engage the end of a conductor when inserted endwise through said side opening and pushed between coils of said spring.

2. An electric connector, comprising: a wall defining an elongate tube, said tube having a plurality of circumferentially spaced side openings adjacent an end thereof; a closure closing said end of said tube, said closure having a recessed outer end defining a socket adapted to receive a connection plug therein; a male contact member projecting into said socket; a contact member connected with said male member and projecting from the inner end of said closure into the adjacent interior of said tube, said contact member including a closely coiled and substantially noncompressible spring adapted to have its coils spread by and into gripped relation with conductors inserted endwise through said openings into the tube interior.

3. An electric connector, comprising: an elongate tube of insulating material; members closing the ends of said tube; and a terminal structure carried by each of said members including an exterior portion, and an interior closely coiled and substantially noncompressible spring member forming a conductor gripping element positioned within said tube, said tube having a side opening adjacent each of said elements adapted to receive a conductor endwise therethrough, and which may be pushed between the coils of said element to spread the coils and establish gripping engagement thereby.

4. A connecting device for mechanical and electrical interconnection of sections of an electrical conductor, comprising: an elongate tubular body; means at the ends of said body releasably connectable with ends of conductor sections, whereby said body forms a mechanical interconnection between said sections; and current conducting structures at the ends of said body respectively having releasable electrical contact with adjacent mechanically connected conductor sections and including a gripping member, the gripping members of said conducting structures being insulated with respect to each other, said body having side openings adjacent said gripping members adapted to receive terminal connections of circuit components into gripped relation with said gripping members, and enable electrical connection of said components in a bridging circuit between said conducting structures.

5. A connecting device for mechanical and electrical interconnection of sections of an electrical conductor, comprising: an elongate tubular body; means at the ends of said body releasably connectable with ends of conductor sections, whereby said body forms a mechanical interconnection between said sections; and current conducting structures at the ends of said body respectively having releasable electrical contact with the adjacent mechanically connected conductor sections, including a gripping member, the gripping members of said conducting structures being insulated with respect to each other, said body having a plurality of circumferentially spaced side openings surrounding each of said gripping members, whereby a plurality of circuit components may be bridgingly connected in circuit between said structures by inserting one terminal conductor of each component through an opening adjacent one gripping member for gripping thereby, and another terminal conductor of each component through an opening adjacent the other gripping member for gripping thereby.

6. A connecting device for mechanical and electrical interconnection of adjacent ends of two conductors: an elongate tubular body; a removable plug closure at each end of said body, each of said closures being recessed to form an open socket in the tubular body end adapted to receive an electric connection plug therein; a male contact member anchored in the bottom of the socket of each of said plugs; a closely coiled and substantially noncompressible spring contact projecting into said tubular body from the bottom of each socket, in an opposite direction to said male member; and said tubular body having at least one side opening adjacent each of said coiled spring contacts adapted for the insertion of a connector into the tubular body between coils of the adjacent spring contact, whereby the connector is gripped and an electric circuit formed therewith.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,696,947 Flaherty Jan. 1, 1929 1,733,591 Gilson Oct. 29, 1929 1,776,859 Johnston Sept. 30, 1930 1,946,889 Wessel Feb. 13, 1934 1,947,798 Reinhardt Feb. 20, 1934 2,086,003 Staley July 6, 1937 2,234,745 Von Rarrel Mar. 11, 1941 2,439,176 Mallard Apr. 6, 1948 2,540,012 Salati Jan. 30, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 458,830 Great Britain Dec. 28, 1936 

